Batmobile No6 fetches in 233.000 USD at UK auction

The car of our childhood dreams, or to be exact one of them, the sixth Batmobile of an unspecified number built for the 120-episode 60's ABC series was sold yesterday night for 233.000 USD or 119.000 BP at an auction commissioned by Coys in London. The Batmobile No6, which is actually fully functionable was bought by a private museum based in the Cayman Islands. Along with another handful of buyers, the Batmopbile’s price was driven more than 50 percent above the upper estimates of Coys Auction house. What else can we say but "Kow, Bam, Wam"! Via: Jalopnik

Technorati: Batman, Robin, Batmobile, Auctions, auto+news, car+news, automobile, cars, automotive, vehicles, Carscoop, blogs, 2007, pictures, images

MINI Cooper Action: "Hammer & Coop" Episodes 1 & 2

For those of you familiar with MINI’s new campaign just ignore this part and click on the video above to see the first episode dubbed “The Clean Getaway” then continue after the jump to see episode 2 called “Dawn of Silverfox”. And now back to those who haven’t got a clue what we’re talking about.

“Hammer & Coop” is a 6 episode long, mini-series that’s heavily influenced by action TV-Series’ of the late 70’s and early 80’s like K.I.T.T – Knight Rider, Starsky & Hutch, The A-Team etc. The films where created exclusively for the web by MINI USA in conjunction with the add agency, BSSP. As for the two protagonists, Jim Turtledove is “Hammer” while the 2007 Mini Cooper S is “Coop”, the talking car. –Continued: Click “Read More…” below to see the rest of the article, Episode 2 and the initial trailer

Although the films are kinda long for your usual “1-minute stay” web users -I’m one of them, I saw both to their full extent and I “kinkily” admit to liking them. And if you’re wondering what the point behind all of this is, MINI seems to want to create a "masculine" image for its hatch in order to dissuade male US buyers who still think it's too feminine for their tastes. Go figure.

EPISODE 2: DAWN OF SILVERFOX



HAMMER & COOP TRAILER

Technorati: Mini+Cooper+S, Hammer+Coop, Youtube, Video, auto+news, car+news, automobile, cars, automotive, vehicles, Carscoop, blogs, 2007

The celebration...$ continue: "La Ferrari & the Movies"

Part of Ferrari’s 60th Anniversary celebrations, the Italian firm is hosting an exhibition featuring unseen till know, photographs of movie stars and their cars, during visits to the Ferrari factory or on the sets of their films. The exhibition will be hosted at the “Galleria Ferrari” which is located at a short distance from the Ferrari plant and the Fiorano circuit. And oh don’t forget to buy those “Amo il Ferrari” bumper stickers on your way out…-Continued: Click “Read More…” below to see the official press release & an image gallery

PRESS RELEASE: LIGHTS! CAMERA! ACTION!

THE GALLERIA FERRARI HOSTS SECOND “LA FERRARI AND THE MOVIES” EXHIBITION

Maranello (Italy)– The movies are back in the spotlight once again at the Galleria Ferrari in Maranello with the opening of the second exhibition devoted to the actors and films that have contributed to enhancing the Ferrari legend worldwide.

As part of the Company’s 60th Anniversary celebrations, this latest exhibition includes a selection of over 40 previously unseen photographs taken from the Ferrari Archive and featuring international film stars who fell under the spell of the Prancing Horse either on set or in their private lives. Stars immortalised at the wheels of their Ferraris, during visits to the Ferrari factory or on the sets of their films are now seen for the first time in public in a special exhibition with all the magic of the silver screen.

Clips from over 70 different films have been edited together too to tell the story of Ferrari’s output over the last 60 years through cameos from its most glittering car stars.

The Ferrari legend has inspired both Cinecittà and Hollywood since the company’s foundation and Prancing Horse cars have starred in some unforgettable scenes, sharing the screen with the likes of Ava Gardner and Gregory Peck in the black and white films of the 1950s and Sophia Loren and Marcello Mastroianni in the classic movies of the 60s. They’ve also featured in the films of Alain Dellon and Walter Matthau, the cult series of the '70s, and, of course, some of the most lavish Hollywood blockbusters of today.

The exhibition also includes a selection of posters, advertisements and stills from movies old and new as well, of course, as some of the stunning cars themselves, including the 250 GT California, which appeared in Vittorio De Sica’s unforgettable Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow and Roger Vadim’s Dangerous Liaisons.

A taste of what the exhibition has to offer will also be on show at the Ferrari Stores in Milan and Rome, from April 17th to May 7th and from May 9th to May 30th respectively. The exhibition runs until June 30th and is included in the price of the admission ticket to the Galleria which is open every day from 9.30 to 18.00 (and until 19.00 on May 1st).

Technorati: Ferrari, auto+news, car+news, automobile, cars, automotive, vehicles, Carscoop, blogs, 2007, pictures, images

Pink Panther "shag-mobile" for sale on e-bay!

I’m sure most of you will have seen at some point a rerun of the famous “Pink Panther” cartoon show that started airing somewhere in the late 60’s. This is the car that was featured in the opening credits of the show and according to its e-bay seller it’s a one-off creation. The pink 'limo' measures at 23 ft long, 6 ft wide and it’s powered by a 7-litre engine that moves the front wheels. The starting price at e-bay is 75.000 BP (147.000 USD or 112.000 EUR). Via: coolest-gadgets

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VW Microbus…literally – by ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons!

Talk about rolling down with your car…. We have no idea how or why Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top guitarist and vocalist) transformed the classic VW Microbus into the extra-terrestrial “Bus Ball” you see in the pics. Actually, the only info we have on the “Bus gBall” is that Gibbons sent these photos to a pal of his named Corky Coker, who in turn published them on his blog. Nevertheless, we definitely think that it rocks…and rolls. Via: Autoblog.com & Coker Tire

Shakira unveils the SEAT Leon Pies Descalzos: 240 HP of Pure Purple

Pop singer Shakira has been the busy little bee in the automotive world as of recently. According to her, “Hips don’t lie”. But according to SEAT, celebrity designed automobiles like the León is just the ticket to A: fight nutrition and aid in education around the world and B: Oh yah, gain some exposure for SEAT’s base for Shakira’s design: the SEAT León Cupra.

The standard Cupra was transformed into a totally unique design to benefit Shakira’s Pies Descalzos charity. One lucky purple lovin’ person will be able to win in the drawing at the end of the fundraising campaign in May. Design alterations to the León Pies Descalzos include a lilac metallic exterior color and standard black 18-inch wheels. The Pies Descalzos logotype (a bare foot) is integrated in the seats as well as in several places on the exterior. -Continued: Click “Read More…” below to see a high-res image gallery

European countries are basically the only ones that will be able to enter the contest either by sending an SMS to a dedicated number in each country and donate 1 Euro or by entering the Shakira/SEAT website – www.catch-the-fever.com where you will be able to donate any sum you would like with a credit card. Posted by Dani

Technorati: Seat+Leon+Cupra, Shakira, auto+news, car+news, automobile, cars, automotive, vehicles, Carscoop, blogs, 2007, pictures, images

Holy smoke Batman! Original 60’s Batmobile goes up for sale in the UK next Month

I can remember as if it was yesterday; I’d grab a chocolate fudge ice-cream and a "Big M" with a straw larger than my arm, sit down on the sofa and watch Batman and his fellow cape crusader Robin bursting from the Batcave with their wicked bad Batmobile to capture all those funny-looking crime doers in Gotham city. Even though I saw the original Batman TV series in the 80‘s, in my eyes the Batmobile was “THE” car. And to be honest, it still is. (Continued -click read more)

However, I think that’s enough with my childhood memories. So what’s up with this Batmobile auction? Well, first of all this is one of the original Batmobiles that were created by the master of custom cars, George Barris for the 60’s TV Series. According to THE SUN (British newspaper), this specific Batmobile will go on sale on by Coys Auctions on the 27th of February at the Royal Horticultural Hall in London. Coys expects that the car is likely to fetch more than 75.000 BP, which is about 148.000 USD or 115.000 EUROS. Would I buy it if I could? You bet your life I would. But since I can’t, I’ll guess I’ll have to do with my classic Corgi’s -for now that is. Via: The Sun

Technorati: Batman, Robin, Batmobile, Auctions, auto+news, car+news, automobile, cars, automotive, vehicles, Carscoop, blogs, 2007, pictures, images,

Seat cures its "Oral Fixation" by sponsoring Shakira’s 2007 Euro Tour

Shakira, one of the most recognized music artists, has chosen SEAT automotive as the main sponsor of her 2007 European Tour which begins on January 25th and ends on March 18th. SEAT is now getting ready to launch a major European-wide advertising campaign benefiting from this partnership. The main elements of the campaign will be seen as of mid January. But for those countries that are “SEAT deprived” we bring you auto emocion at its finest…..with a hot chick driving it. Posted by Dani

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Eminem’s 1999 Ford Mustang up for sale on E-bay

What goes around comes around as Eminem’s 1999 Ford Mustang, which he sold in 2003 over at e-bay to multimillion-dollar heir Courtney Wittenberns, is up for sale again, where else, but e-bay. The funny thing is that Courtney Wittenberns had to wait until 2006 when she'll actually be old enough to drive Eminem’s Mustang. Talk about wasted money…

Anyway, according to the site www.eminemscar.com (….), the featured Mustang was Eminem's first automobile purchase after the release of his first album. Marshal Mathers (Eminem) then changed the colour of the car from its original red to a deep purple and added a new set of chrome wheels for the "Purple Pills" video, which was later renamed to "Purple Hills". The starting price at e-bay for this “historical” Mustang is 27.000 USD. Via: Motorpasion & e-bay

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